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Alchemy's Daughter Blog Tour and Giveaway

Alchemy's Daughter by Mary A. OsbornePublication date: May 15, 2015 by Lake Street PressGenre: Historical Fiction/ Young AdultPages: 280Source: Publisher via Italy Book ToursDescription:Santina Pietra is seventeen and in medieval San Gimignano, daughters of merchants are expected to marry. But Santina cares only for Calandrino, a brilliant young scholar who is preoccupied with his ancient alchemical texts. Soon Santina meets Trotula, the village midwife, who might or might not be a strega, or witch. Trotula challenges her to forget Calandrino and become the woman she is meant to be. Some say she is a victim of the midwife’s spell, but Santina is determined to follow in Trotula’s footsteps even as calamities strike.The setting is 14th century Italy, yet in Santina contemporary readers will discover a strong-minded young woman whose search for meaning echoes their own. Alchemy’s Daughter is the author’s second novel.My Take:I love to read books about midwives and healers, so I was excited to read Alchemy's Daughter. I was unaware that there is another book by Mary A. Osborne, but I will be seeking it out in the near future.At the beginning of the book, Santina is just lovesick and can't really think of much beyond Calandrino. I was worried that this was going to be constant throughout the book, but after Calandrino leaves, she does turn her focus on the many things that Trotula is able to teach her. Santina is an avid student and is a fast learner, but she lacks the patience that Trotula is trying to teach her. Santina is anxious to learn everything and will learn some hard lessons because of her lack of patience.I really loved that there is so much attention given to the daily work, the details of daily life for Santina and Trotula and the other residents of the area. As with so many of these learned women, there are people who are suspicious and look for reasons to make accusations. I thought the author did a great job of showing the way people think and react to the unknown and what they can't explain. I also appreciated that the author set the story firmly in the historical period with plenty of historical detail which helped to make the story more authentic.Santina works hard and tries to do what is right, but she does make mistakes - as we all do. Some of these mistakes or decisions have difficult repercussions, but Santina does her best to be strong and survive in a harsh world. I hate to give anything away because I really enjoyed this book and I want others to be able to come to it with no preconceived expectations. There is tragedy, heartbreak, love, support, so much learning and there are some really wonderful surprises as well. There were some plot twists that I was not expecting and I loved the way the book ended. I will be handing Alchemy's Daughter to my daughters to read, and that is pretty much the best recommendation I can give it.

Author's Bio:

Mary A. Osborne is the multiple award-winning author of Alchemy's Daughter and Nonna’s Book of Mysteries. A graduate of Rush University and Knox College, where she was mentored in the Creative Writing Program, Ms. Osborne is a registered nurse and holds degrees in chemistry and nursing. Her freelance work has appeared in publications such as Hektoen International, Newcity, and the Examiner.com. Ms. Osborne lives in Chicago.

Comments

This captivating historical sounds unforgettable and emotional. The characters, the story and the beautiful locale all appeal to me greatly. What a wonderful feature and giveaway. Your review was excellent. Many thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Hello from Mary A. Osborne and happy Friday! I truly appreciate the opportunity to visit your wonderful blog. Thank you for your interest in Alchemy's Daughter and Santina's journey. Glad you enjoyed the book!

Curly-haired brunettes with blue eyes are the only women that seem to capture Keith’s attention. But is it really their appearance that attracts him or something sinister? Keith, a broken soul, who’s battling between good and evil, goes about his days trying to fight his evil urges. But because of a demonic stronghold, in most instances good loses the battle to evil.

Affected by the pain and hurt of his childhood, he now seeks out the love he didn’t receive as a child. But when he doesn’t get it, there’s retribution to pay…and what a sad day it is for those curly-haired brunettes with blue eyes who fail to make the mark. But things take a turn when he meets a grocery store cashier who has the ability to see evil th…

I am happy to participate in the blog tour for the new book by James MacManus, Sleep in Peace Tonight. I previously reviewed his book Black Venus and quite enjoyed it. Please enjoy the excerpt.

Sleep in Peace Tonight by James MacManusPublication date: October 7, 2014 by Thomas Dunne BooksDescription:It’s January 1941, and
the Blitz is devastating England. Food supplies are low, Tube stations
in London have become bomb shelters, and U-boats have hampered any hope
of easy victory. Though the United States maintains its isolationist
position, Churchill knows that England is finished without the aid of
its powerful ally.

Harry Hopkins, President Roosevelt’s most
trusted adviser, is sent to London as his emissary, and there he falls
under the spell of Churchill’s commanding rhetoric---and legendary
drinking habits. As he experiences life in a country under attack,
Hopkins questions the United States’ silence in the war. But back home
FDR is paranoid about the isolationist lobby, an…

A Drama in Muslin by George Moorebought from Kennys BookshopSummary from Goodreads: A reprint of the first edition written in the 1880s, this is generally considered to be the best version of one of Moore's greatest books. Set in Ireland in the 1880s against a backdrop of Land League troubles in Co. Mayo, and in Dublin, where the social life revolves around the Vice-Regal court in Dublin Castle, this depicts the efforts of a mother trying to catch socially suitable husbands for her daughters, and chronicles the results. My Take: This was an interesting book for a number of reasons. I like Irish history and the book takes place in the 1880's in western Ireland during the activities of the Land League, so there is the historical aspect to it. But the most interesting thing was the picture it painted of the lives of five girls born into the gentry of the West of Ireland. They had been sent to a girls school for much of their lives and when they were of age, they had to join society…

I am a wife and home schooling mother of three with a degree in English Literature and a huge appetite for reading. I read most types of books, but I am particularly fond of Victorian fiction, urban fantasy, some YA, sci fi, historical fiction, and the list could go on.

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